Across the islands of Hawai'i and Maui, wildfires started blazing on Tuesday. Initially fueled by the winds of Hurricane Dora over 800 miles away, the destruction has been particularly devastating on the west coast of Maui. Lahaina — the former capital of the Hawaiian Kingdom — is now ash and rubble.
Many people jumped into the ocean to escape the fires. One resident told CNN, "All boat owners are being asked to rescue people. It's apocalyptic."
At least 36 people have died, but Maui officials warned the death toll could rise as search teams spread to new areas and fires continue burning. So far, over 270 structures have been damaged or destroyed.
Here are some of the tweets from people mourning this tragedy:
1.
I wonder how many ppl truly understand the significance of this destruction.
Lāhainā was Ko Hawaiʻi Pae ʻĀina’s capital from 1820 until 1845.
Waineʻe Church, now called Waiola Church, is the final resting place for some of our aliʻi.
Just heard from a friend in Maui who narrowly escaped the fire. She said people were jumping into the ocean to escape. She’s not sure where her people are at this moment. So heavy. Heartbreaking. https://t.co/q7l1TTttx0
Sickening that there’s tourists asking about how to salvage their vacation in a time like this. THIS IS WHY WE TELL YOU TO STAY HOME because when OUR HOME is in trouble , fakas more worried about why they can’t go to the beach in a town that’s burning
The largest banyan tree in America, in the Heart of Lahaina, turned 150 years old this year. Here it is after the #MauiFires. A tragic symbol of the climate emergency and colonial greed pic.twitter.com/P4GtcqqCFD
everything… is just gone 😭 my kids will never get to experience front street/lahaina town like we did. this is fucken heartbreaking 😭💔 pic.twitter.com/C1gxxCOS7Z
Those of you who don’t live here, I want you to remember this headline, because it is a perfect summary of what it means to be a Hawai‘i resident. All of our tax dollars, state resources, & major efforts go to visitors FIRST, even in emergencies leaving residents devastated. https://t.co/Wg3mIC3mMj
And the award for most callous reporting about the calamitous wildfires on Maui goes to Canadian news.
While people who died in the fire are still being pulled from the streets of Lāhainā, @CTVNews is doing a story on snow birds and their vacation property & travel plans. https://t.co/8gvOe0FAS7
It’s a sight to behold do not come here as a tourist there are thousands of families displaced. Missing family members and lack of resources. Please help support in anyway you can I’ll be making a thread of ways you can help. pic.twitter.com/PPOGtThYvH
The way some folks are framing the loss on Maui as a “loss of their paradise” is disgusting. Locals, including Native Hawaiians have been hurt and have lost so much.
Fuck your settler paradise, where is your humanity?
At least 36 people have been killed in Maui and thousands of Hawaii residents have fled their homes from of one of the deadliest U.S. wildfires in years. The fires have been fueled in part by violent winds from Hurricane Dora, more than 800 miles away.
Maui is actively burning and there’s people sharing their concern by sharing their vacation??! There’s people dying and families who just lost everything but your concern is your “paradise spot”
All day today, I kept telling everyone my heart hurts for the aina. I couldn't figure out what it was, I just knew something wasn't right. Come to find out one of our cultural centers that contained priceless archives and artifcats burned down. Thats what I was fucking feeling.
I hope every tourist who has ever lectured a Native Hawaiian on how their personal vacation saved the local economy is donating as much money as they spent on foreign-owned hotels to Maui orgs right now.
